LAFAY= ETTE TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

6776 Wedgewood Road, Medina, = Ohio

December 1, 2009 @ 7:0= 0 p.m.

Zoning Commission Chair Karen Schoonover called the me= eting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call indicated four regular members of the Zonin= g Commission were present: Karen Schoonove= r, Dianne Wenslow, Sherri Meinke and Russ Green. Matthew Strehle (alternate) and Zo= ning Inspector Alliss Strogin were also present. Mike Biskup was absent.

Minutes

Upon motion by Dianne Wenslow, duly seconded by Sherri Meinke, the November 4, 2009, regular meeting minutes were unanimously approved.

Correspondence

The secretary distributed the following items:

= - = December 2009 Grassroots Clippings newslette= r

= - = Listing of 2009 Zoning Permits to date

= - = C= leveland City Ordinance R= 11; Regulating Wind Energy Facilities

= - = S= eville Village Zoning Text – Commercial Mixed Use Overlay District

= - = Comprehensive Plan “draft” - Implementa= tion Strategies (11/19/09)

Zoning Inspector Report

The zoning inspector in= dicated that the complaint regarding an outdoor wood-burning fu= rnace on Coon Club Road was resolved as the property owner moved the furnace to a different locatio= n on his property. Wood-burning fu= rnaces are considered structures and appropriate zoning for structures would apply= . In addition the EPA has control ov= er them and there is no control by the fire department.

Zoning Inspector Strogi= n also indicated that the sign violation (seed sign on Lafayette Road) had proceeded throu= gh court and by default the township won the case. The Prosecutor’s Office is continuing to work on this matter.

Old Business=

Status of Comprehensive Plan Revision

Chair Schoonover indicated that the next meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the township hall with land uses to be discussed. All are encouraged to attend.

The Board proceeded to review the “draft” Implementation Strategies handout prepared by the Medina County Department = of Planning Services pertaining to the revision of the Lafayette Township Comprehensive Plan. Some of t= he items discussed included:

= - = The Zoning Text Amendments that MCDPS suggest that = the board focus on and work on when the Comprehensive Plan gets adopted.

= - = In General Regulations:

o = Lot Storage (reduce the length of time permitted for unlicensed or disabled vehicles);

o = Structures and Construction (suggest provisions for shared driveways);

o = Ponds and Lakes (considering them as a structure allows perimeters to be set; lim= it placement in front yard; need to be on only one property);

o = Home Occupation (home-based business regulations);

o = Site Plan Review and Conformance (suggest expanding some of the landscape requirements and strengthening buffering requirements).

= - = Review and Revise the Rural Residential District (encourage continued use of significant portion of the township for agricultural production).

- Create an R-2 Residential District of less t= han 2-acres that could be applied in select locations (allow for more affordable housing; permit conservation/ cluster development as a conditional use). Note: Board comments R= 11; is this something that we could utilize; where would you even consider putting this; sounds something like a PUD; should there be a better name for this potential new district.

- Amend the Medina City Buffer District (elimi= nate dog kennel etc.) Note:= Board comment – possibly rename this district.

- Amend the Lafayette Township Transition Dist= rict (eliminate dog kennel etc.)

Note:<= /i> Board comment – possibly rename this district.

- Revise the Local Commercial District Regulat= ions (encourage unified development).

- Supplementary Regulations (put Sexually Orie= nted Business definitions in the Definitions Section).

- Amend the Flood Plain District Regulations.<= i>

- Amend Sign Regulations to make them content neutral.

- Create a Mixed-Use Overlay District for the = Town Center area. Note: Board to revie= w Seville Mixed-Use District text.

- Promote Agricultural Protection (encourage u= se of farmland protection programs to preserve prime farmland).<= /i>

- Revise the Planned Unit Development (PUD) section to make it more user-friendly.

- Amend Zoning to include Riparian Setbacks.

- Future Studies: Property at the intersection of SR= 162 and US42; Lake Road area between the Medina City/Township Boundary and = Wedgewood Road; Chippewa Lake area.

- Administrative Measures (adopt plan and prov= ide for periodic review and updating).

Chair Schoonover asked that the Board members further = review the “draft” Implementation Strategies and jot down any further comments/questions each may have, as there will be a lot of issues to look = at next year.

Zoning Commission Suggested Priority Items (listed for informational purposes)

The list to date includes:

= - = Nonconforming Lots in Chippewa Lake Area;

= - = Comprehensive Plan Revision;

= - = Parking Regulations (Matt Strehle research/review);=

= - = Site Plan Review Procedures;

= - = Abolish Rear Lots (Dianne Wenslow research/review);=

= - = General Clean-up of Zoning Code;

= - = Lake Road Zoning Districts (Mike Biskup research/review);

= - = Allowable Uses in Local Commercial (Mike Biskup research/review);

= - = Conditional Uses;

= - = Signage (Sherri Meinke research/review);

= - = Solar and Wind Power (Russ Green research/review);<= /p>

= - = Transportation/Trolley.

Other Items

Sherri Meinke indicated that her continued research in= to Signage found her looking at zoning code definitions from the town of Normal, Illinois (animated sign, awning sign, canopy sign, illuminated sign and many other definitions). A copy of= these definitions will be provided to the Board at the next meeting.

There is a lot of material out there from other townsh= ips and cities relative to signage but we need to look at our township to find = out what signs would work best in our area.&nb= sp; There will be more discussion on signage at the next meeting so bring all your signage materials with you.

Announcements

= - = Next Lafayette Township Comprehensive Plan meeting = will be Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the township hall.

= - = Next regular meeting of the Zoning Commission will = be Tuesday,

January 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. at the township hall.

Adjournment

Upon motion by Karen Schoonover, duly seconded by Sher= ri Meinke, it was unanimous that the meeting be adjourned. Adjourned at 8= :12 p.m.

Marlene L. Oiler, Certified PP, PLS

Lafa= yette Township Zoning Commission Secretary

(Note: M= inutes approved on 1/5/2010.)